Iowa Quarterback Says He Hopes to Transfer to SDSU

When the Iowa football team left San Diego after the Holiday Bowl last week, the Hawkeyes apparently left quarterback Dan McGwire behind.

McGwire, a former Parade Magazine All-American at Claremont High School in Los Angeles County, said Tuesday he intends to transfer to San Diego State.

McGwire--brother of Mark McGwire, the American League rookie of the year with the Oakland A’s--said he was unhappy at Iowa and wanted to return to play football in Southern California.

“I wasn’t getting a fair shot,” McGwire said. “I want to go somewhere where I’ll be treated fairly.”

McGwire, a 6-foot 8-inch, 218-pound sophomore, started the Hawkeyes’ first game this season against Tennessee. He completed 7 of 14 passes for 86 yards in a 23-22 loss and was replaced as starter by sophomore Tom Poholsky for the next game, against Arizona.

McGwire had one other start, a 19-14 loss in the Big 10 Conference opener against eventual Rose Bowl champion Michigan State. He completed 16 of 26 attempts for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns but was replaced for the rest of the season by Chuck Hartlieb, a junior.

Hartlieb led the the Hawkeyes on a six-game winning streak, including a 20-19 victory over Wyoming in the Holiday Bowl last Wednesday.

McGwire finished the season with 41 completions in 72 attempts for 506 yards, 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

He had earned the starting job after a strong spring game and held it through preseason. He said he was upset that he lost the job after one game.

“They built me up when I was a freshman to be the greatest thing to come along,” said McGwire, 20. “Then they just dropped me.”

McGwire said he had received oral permission from the Iowa coaches to transfer. McGwire must still receive a written release from Iowa to be eligible to receive athletic-related financial aid from San Diego State.

Under National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rules, McGwire would not be eligible to play for San Diego State until the 1989 season. He would have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

George Wine, Iowa sports information director, said the school has not received a request from McGwire for written permission to transfer.

Iowa Coach Hayden Fry could not be reached for comment.

Fred Miller, San Diego State athletic director, said the school sent Iowa Athletic Director Bump Elliott a letter Tuesday notifying him that McGwire had contacted SDSU about transferring.

“I want to go someplace where they pass the ball,” McGwire said. “And at San Diego State, they pass the heck out of the ball.”

In Todd Santos, the Aztecs for the past four years had the most prolific passer in major-college history. Santos finished his college career with an NCAA record 11,425 passing yards.

The Aztecs have three scholarship quarterbacks who are expected to compete in the spring to replace Santos. The leading contenders are two redshirts--Scott Barrick, a freshman from Fallbrook High School, and Brad Platt, a junior transfer from Southwestern College.

The other candidate is Jack Skogg, a sophomore from Ionia, Mich., who served as Santos’ backup. Skogg completed 8 of 15 attempts for 58 yards, with 1 interception.

“I knew wherever I transferred, there would be some quarterbacks already there,” McGwire said. “The only thing I want is fair opportunity to prove myself.”

Aztec Notes

San Diego State has moved its home football game against Brigham Young from Nov. 5 to Nov. 26, Athletic Director Fred Miller said Tuesday. Miller said the game was moved in hopes of attracting television coverage. The game will conclude the 1988 season for both teams. Miller also said the Aztecs probably will open the season with a Sunday night game against Air Force Sept. 11 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. The game would be moved from Saturday night because of a conflict with the Padres’ scheduling. The Padres are to play the Atlanta Braves in a Saturday night game Sept. 10 and a Sunday day game Sept. 11. . . . Miller said that he intends to keep ticket prices the same for season-ticket holders but that he expects prices for individual tickets to rise slightly. Current prices range from $9 to $12. . . . Two offensive linemen from Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana will transfer to SDSU, Coach Denny Stolz has said. Derek Sang (6-feet 5-inches, 270 pounds) and Steve Blythe (6-1, 260) are to enroll in time for the spring semester.